Avalanche Pregame Notes
Avalanche Game 64 vs Toronto Maple Leafs: New-Look Lineup, Lines, Notes & How to Watch
The Colorado Avalanche (37-24-2) continue their six-game homestand against the Toronto Maple Leafs (38-21-3). Puck drop is scheduled for 5:20 p.m. MT.
READ MORE: Avalanche Bring Back Erk Johnson
The Avalanche’s lineup has changed immensely during this four-game winning streak and there could be up to three new additions tonight.
Brock Nelson practiced with Valeri Nichushkin and Jonathan Drouin on Friday and will slot in as the No. 2. Charlie Coyle, who was acquired for Casey Mittelstadt, is expected to take over 3C duties. And if the Avs decide to dress Erik Johnson, he’ll slot in as the third right-shot defenseman either with Samuel Girard or Ryan Lindgren.
The entire lineup isn’t necessarily figured out just yet. Without a morning skate, we haven’t gotten any confirmation from Jared Bednar on which of his 14 forwards and eight defensemen are going to sit. I’d wager a guess that Jimmy Vesey will come out of the lineup, joining Miles Wood as a healthy scratch. That means Parker Kelly would remain on the fourth line as a winger with Jack Drury up the middle.
I’m not entirely sure if Johnson plays, especially without getting a practice day in first. Johnson hasn’t played for the Flyers since Feb. 8. He’s been healthy scratched quite often this year. I don’t have him slotted in, but that’s not by any means set in stone. Both Keaton Middleton and Sam Malinski are options if Johnson isn’t in the lineup.
The Avs are coming off a 7-3 victory over the last-place San Jose Sharks. Colorado let in two goals in the third period, which is one-third of the total six goals surrendered in the first four games of this hometand. The offense has also taken off, scoring 21 goals in four games. The additions of Nelson and Coyle are only going to add to that.
With Minnesota losing on Friday, the Avs are now in possession of third place in the Central Division. They are eight points behind the Dallas Stars for home-ice advantage in the first round.
READ MORE: Avalanche Acquire Charlie Coyle for Casey Mittelstadt
Toronto was busy on deadline day, acquiring center Scott Laughton and defenseman Brandon Carlo. The Leafs also won’t have a morning skate given the early puck drop, so there won’t be any lineup confirmations until we hear from head coach Craig Berube before puck drop.
The Leafs practiced at DU on Friday and have had a full day to prepare for the Avs and adjust to the altitude. I wouldn’t be surprised if Coyle and Carlo — longtime teammates who will face each other tonight — were on the same flight to Denver to join their new respective clubs.
Toronto continues to push for the top seed in the Atlantic division. If Berube’s club manages a win tonight, they’ll tie the Florida Panthers for first, albeit the reigning Cup champions still hold the regulation wins tiebreaker. The Tampa Bay Lightning are also hot on their tails for the No. 2 seed.
It’s safe to say that both the Avs and Leafs have a lot to play for.
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READ MORE: Exclusive: Why Toes is Excited For Nelson to Join The Avs (+)
Season Series
- March 8 vs Toronto Maple Leafs
- March 19 at Toronto Maple Leafs
Avalanche Injuries
- Gabriel Landeskog (knee, no timetable)
Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)
Artturi Lehkonen โ Nathan MacKinnon โ Martin Necas
Valeri Nichushkin โ Brock Nelson โ Jonathan Drouin
Joel Kiviranta โ Charlie Coyle โย Ross Colton
Parker Kelly โ Jack Drury โ Logan OโConnor
Devon Toews โ Cale Makar
Ryan Lindgren โ Josh Manson
Samuel Girard โ Keaton Middleton
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Projected Starters (subject to change)
- Expected: Mackenzie Blackwood (COL)
- Expected: Anthony Stolarz (TOR)
Upcoming Milestones
- Mackenzie Blackwood โ needs 2 wins for 100
- Nathan MacKinnon โ needs 3 points for 1000
- Logan OโConnor โ needs 3 points for 100
- Martin Necas โ needs 5 assists for 200
- Brock Nelson — needs 5 goals for 300
- Erik Johnson — needs 6 goals for 100
- Jonathan Drouin โ needs 6 games for 600
- Jimmy Vesey โ needs 8 points for 200, 8 assists for 100
How to Watch
- TV: Altitude TV, NHL Network
- Radio: 92.5 FM
Avalanche Game 69 at Toronto Maple Leafs: Lines, Notes & How To Watch
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Gabriel Landeskog Joins First Practice With Avalanche — Still Not Taking Contact
10 Observations: Mackenzie Blackwood Is a Shootout Dud (+)
Could the Avalanche Have the Best Second Line in the NHL?
Digging Through the Numbers From the Avalancheโs Perfect Homestand
10 Observations: Sign Me Up For Seven Games of Avalanche vs Stars in April (+)
Mikko Rantanen Departed Colorado With a Complicated Legacy. Should That Be the Case?
Ugh..for those of us outside of Denver who already pay $15 a month for ESPN plus. And I have YouTube TV!
It’s complete BS that they do these NHL network exclusive games. No services other than Fubo I believe carry your crappy network Bettman. And even with a base Fubo package, I think you have to pay extra for it. So dumb.
Sling also carries NHL Network. But yeah I have YouTube TV too & I wish it had NHL Network.
Agreed. It’s ironic that the only Avalanche games I can’t watch are the ones on NHL Network.
What a huge letdown to find out that the first game after the trade deadline would be radio only for me.
It says it’s on Altitude TV. I checked and they’re carrying it.
Same. For a league that you could legitimately argue is vying with the WNBA in terms of their level of TV ratings. You’d think they wouldn’t make it to where you have to have 3 or 4 different subscriptions to watch the games.
Bettman needs to be replaced with somebody who has more of a modern sensibility when it comes to the changing landscape of sports media consumption.
DirecTV stream has NHL network too, next time youโre shopping around.
Altitude schedule
I know Altitude is technically carrying the game. But if you live outside of Denver (since the game won’t be on ESPN +). The only way to watch is if you have Altitude+. Which I’m not paying $20 for (since they don’t offer any sort of free trial). Just to watch one game. Or obviously NHL network.
Hopefully that makes sense lol? I almost confused myself typing it out. It shouldn’t be this convoluted to watch a hockey game.
There’s always Altitude+, personally for these exclusive games that aren’t on ESPN+, I tend to sail the high seas.
I have never missed a game as I too am an old salt lolโฆ I hear a lot of complaining about not being able to watch the Avs yet the game is at your fingertips lolโฆ.
Try SportsNet+ with a VPN.
I use that, and works fine with US cc.
Bonus, don’t have to listen to ESPN/NHL announcers or PK Subban on TNT.
Yep, it’s lame. I can’t watch any NHLN games or games against MN. The thing that really grinds my gears is that I have to wait to watch the replay for like 2 days…
Itโs free over the air as part of the channel 9 agreement. Hereโs the remaining games:
With 14 forwards, 8 defensemen, and 2 goalies, can the team have more than 23 players on the roster?
23 on the roster – 20 suited for a game. NHL benches accommodate 14 players while six on the ice.
Streaming is free.
Yeah..I’m aware I can illegally stream it. But I’m not able to watch the game live.
There is only a 1-3 minute time lag. It’s practically live.
Lol..no. I meant as in I won’t be home. So catching it live isn’t an option. I wouldn’t care about the delay or lag.
I have absolutely nothing against Middleton but I would prefer Malinski to be in the lineup. Malinski needs to have some mileage in the NHL. He can only improve and could prove to be a very interesting option in the playoffs.
I still see Malinski on the 3rd pair and Johnson as the 7th d-man. Middleton should only be thought of if there are two or more injuries.
I like Malinski and his play has improved. But he gets manhandled in the corners and pushed around easily. He’ll need to learn how to avoid hits, a la Sammy, or bulk up in the off season. They’ll target Malinski in the playoffs. Like they target Girard. I’d love to see E.J. in shape and be able to contribute meaningful minutes for the Avs. I hope we see E.J. play before the playoffs. Let’s see what he has left in his tank. A lot of negative posters on Middleton who, to me, plays a simple, hard nosed, defensive game. Keaton… Read more »
It’s not to be negative towards Middleton, but he’s an orange cone on the Avalanche’s blue line. He is prone to cheating for fear of being beaten by speed, which leaves more space for the opponent. But it’s easier to play him at home because the Avalanche have the last change.
That will change when everything slows down in the playoffs. Much tighter checking and a slower pace as every inch of ice is fought over.
Yep.
Playoff hockey is practically a different sport.
Throw away your spreadsheets when it starts.
To the contrary, I really like Midds.
He is refreshingly straightforward, physically intimidating and keeps it simple.
More of that – less figure skating.
Bonus – he may be the only guy who will give Benn a hard time come playoffs.
(Really looking forward to seeing Benn get worked in front).
Unless there are injuries, I don’t think Middleton will be dressed in the playoffs.
Middleton I’m sure is a great guy. And yes he’s big. But the NHL game is just too fast for him. It’s not just that he’s a slow skater. If you watch when he gets the puck in his own end he just doesn’t make quick enough reads. He’s slow to mentally process things & read the play.
And it’s not just his foot speed that’s a problem it’s that he often as Jeff alluded to, he gets caught flat footed. Which can’t happen when you’re as slow a skater as he is because he can’t recover.
Does anyone know if Malinski is injured or is he in the dog house?
It’s my belief that Middleton will come in handy during the Playoffs. TBD.
Avs fans have this somewhat warped view of Dmen profiles where they think they all need to be puck carrying skaters, rated on PPG, EGF, and other advanced strangeness.
Not so.
(Besides we have enough of those).
To win the SC tourney we need more sturdy lumberjacks on the back end.
Old school, baby!
I agree that over the last few years the Avs have been too enamored with finesse puck moving D. Just look at their signings of Brannstrom & Kylington in the off – season. Never understood either one. That’s literally all they can do is skate.
But Middleton still has to be able to make NHL level decisions, reads, etc. And he can’t. He’s an AHL’er. Which I don’t say as a slight. It is what it is.
Do you realize that the composition of tonight’s team has never been good since June 2022?
The team will certainly be more difficult to play against with this center line. I really like that. And when the situation starts to get tougher in the playoffs, we will have the luxury of throwing Miles Wood into the fray who will have the effect of a lion coming out of a cage.
The only thing with Miles is you don’t know what’s coming first – – a big check against the opposition or a penalty. Honestly, the Avs are a better team without him in the lineup.
I thought a roster can only have 23 max?
Why don’t they just waive wood.
Wood still has $10M left on his guaranteed contract at $2.5M AAV through the 2028-2029 season. That number would stay on the Avs cap unless Wood was placed on waivers and some team claimed him along with his contract. That’s highly doubtful. I believe Wood could be assigned to the Eagles but that would be an expensive Eagle player. Probably the best thing to do is to try and trade him this summer and perhaps retain some salary to facilitate the trade.
Obviously, one of the worst decisions (player wise) for the contract length.
I’m not certain about the mechanics of Wood’s contract but as I understand it, it’s structured so it’s front loaded, intentionally making it easier to move after the 2nd year – which means after July 1st of this year
No front load. Miles Wood is signed to a 6 year, $15,000,000 contract with a cap hit of $2,500,000 AAV per season. His contract was signed on July 1, 2023, and expires at the end of the 2028-29 season, when Wood will be 33 years old.
I believe he’s referring to the way the contract is actually structured in regards to the actual dollars he gets paid year over year.
The Avs front loaded the contract. Obviously you are correct in that his cap hit is 2.5 regardless.
I was saying to put him on waivers cause there only allowed to carry 23 players correct?
Then trade him in offseason. Even if he’s an expensive eagles player
To our question about the 23 man roster limit, Evan Rawal said that after the trade deadline there is no limit on number of people, as long as the roster is cap compliant.